Abbey Dvorak

Ph.D. University of Iowa; M.A. University of Iowa; B.A. Briar Cliff University.

Abbey Dvorak served as assistant professor of Music Therapy at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA before coming to KU. She has earned her Ph.D. in Music Education/Music Therapy from the University of Iowa, her MA and Equivalency in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa, and her BA in Music Education from Briar Cliff University. She received several research awards, including the Arthur Flagler Fultz Research Grant Award from the American Music Therapy Association, for her study and dissertation: Music Therapy Support Groups for Cancer Patients and Caregivers.

Previously, she has worked as a clinical specialist in Music Therapy at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In addition, she provided contractual music therapy services for West Music Company, serving a variety of clientele, from children with developmental disabilities to adults in hospice care. Dvorak received specialized training in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), music therapy clinical supervision and music therapy with premature infants in the NICU. She presents regularly at national and regional conferences and enjoys volunteer work in her community.